Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
767. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the capital funding that has been allocated to children’s health projects in Ireland under the Shared Island Fund to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36973/22]
View answerEnhancing North/South co-operation is a priority for the Government. The government’s Shared Island initiative involves:
- Working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to address strategic challenges faced on the island of Ireland.
- Further developing the all-island economy, deepening North/South cooperation, and investing in the North West and border regions.
- Fostering constructive and inclusive dialogue and a comprehensive programme of research to support the building of consensus around a shared future on the island.
I am committed to working with partners in Northern Ireland to improve cooperation in health and social care where there are clear benefits for both jurisdictions and for patients across the island. We can build on the successes of recent years, including all-island provision of paediatric cardiac surgery in Dublin and cross-border provision of radiotherapy and coronary intervention services in Derry.
Project prioritisation in the health sector is driven by healthcare needs. The development of new /refurbished healthcare facilities anywhere in the country cannot be seen in isolation or separate from the delivery of related health care services. Therefore, the determination of the specific model of care and how where it interfaces with the wider health service is a critical element in the specification /project brief that determines the type of facility to be provided.
These criteria apply equally for health infrastructure projects which may be funded under the Shared Island programme.
At time of writing, no allocation has been provided from the Shared Island Fund for any children’s health capital projects.
My Department will continue to work with the Department of the Taoiseach on the Shared Island Initiative and is considering how best to deepen North-South collaboration in healthcare with Shared Island support.
